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Last updated on: May 20, 2025
Chola MS Health Insurance and SBI General Health Insurance are two leading providers in India, offering a range of health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage. Chola MS is known for its quick claim settlement, extensive network of hospitals, and customizable plans like Chola Healthline, which cater to individual and family needs. SBI General Health Insurance stands out with its wide reach, competitive premiums, and robust plans such as the Arogya Premier Policy, offering high sum insured options and additional wellness benefits. While both insurers provide cashless treatment and tax benefits under Section 80D, Chola MS often appeals to those seeking tailored coverage and seamless customer service, whereas SBI General suits individuals seeking affordability and broader accessibility. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs, preferred hospital network, policy features, and premium budget.
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Read BioThe right health insurance is a major decision that Indian families have to make, given that the medical expenses are still increasing in 2025.
Chola MS Health Insurance and SBI General Health Insurance are both reputed to have good plans, a large network of hospitals and flexibility.
Being aware of their differences will help you to choose the most suitable policy.
This comparison will elaborate on the features of each insurer, advantages, limits and peculiarities of each so that you and your loved ones can make a wise choice.
Chola MS Health Insurance is a joint venture between Murugappa Group and the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company of Japan.
It has been serving Indian customers more than 20 years, and it has affordable and comprehensive plans according to the various ages and family size.
The State Bank of India supports the SBI General Health Insurance which has expanded at a very fast rate since 2010.
It is aimed at a wide range of customers, having an extensive network of hospitals and customer-friendly policies.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) regulates both insurers and provides a standard quality and service.
The Indian insurance market is saturated, and minor variations in benefits can influence the financial stability of your family.
The comparison of these two leading companies allows you to identify plans that suit your medical requirements in 2025 and beyond.
Each has different coverage, size of network, renewal conditions, customer services, and wellness benefits, which are important when you require hospital services.
The 2025 data released by IRDAI indicates that the average out-of-pocket healthcare spending of Indians increased by 18 percent over the three years between 2021 and 2024, highlighting the urgency of the comprehensive coverage.
(Hospital networks and features are applicable to retail policies according to April 2025 plan details.)
| Feature | Chola MS Health Insurance | SBI General Health Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Cashless Network Hospitals | 8,000+ | 9,500+ |
| Pre-Hospitalization Cover | 60 days | 60 days |
| Post-Hospitalization cover | 90 days | Up to 180 days |
| No-Claim Bonus | Up to 50 % | Up to 100 % |
| Restoration of Sum Insured | Only on a few plans | On many plans |
| Maternity Cover | Yes (select plans) | Yes (select plans) |
| Free Annual Health Check-up | Yes | Yes |
| Wellness Programs | Limited | Extensive rewards and programmes |
| Waiting Period of Pre-existing Disease | 2 years mostly | 3–4 years |
| Lifetime Renewability | Yes | Yes |
| Online Claim Intimation | Yes | Yes |
Both insurers offer individual, family floater, critical illness, and top up.
Key differences are:
In 2023, Rohit Sharma, a 45-year old IT professional based in Pune, selected SBI Arogya Supreme. Two no-claim years later, his no-claim bonus was raised to add the family amount covered by the insurance to 10lakh to 18lakh without any additional fee.
His sister, who had an insurance plan with Chola MS, had a 40 percent increase (10 lakh to 14 lakh) on a comparable plan. Both of them had good covers, yet Rohit was more interested in the better bonus and health benefits of staying healthy.
No-claim bonus is a policy that awards policyholders who remain free of claims during a policy year. It typically raises the sum insured or provides a discount on renewal premium. SBI General offers better NCB rates than most Chola MS plans in 2025.
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Expert Insight
A shorter waiting time to get covered immediately is encouraged by many insurance advisors whereas higher NCBs are appreciated by others to save in the long run and have flexibility.
Both insurance companies have 24/7 helplines and an app-based service.
The 2024–2025 grievance data released by IRDAI indicate that SBI General has quicker resolution and better claim payout ratios.
Chola MS
SBI General
Chatbots and email tickets are provided online.
The app offered by SBI General offers more advanced self-serving options like renewal notifications and uploading of claim documents.
Both companies have good networks of branches but SBI has a broader network.
Yes.
Online, you can compare the premiums, features, and hospital networks of both Chola MS and SBI General in one dashboard, making the decision quicker and more transparent.
In 2025, industry premiums increased 8–12% due to medical inflation and added benefits.
Both Chola MS and SBI General offer competitive rates for families, individuals, and seniors.
| Plan Type | Sum Insured | Chola MS (25 yrs, 2A+1C) | SBI General (25 yrs, 2A+1C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Floater | ₹5 lakh | ₹9,200 | ₹9,750 |
| Family Floater | ₹10 lakh | ₹13,700 | ₹13,950 |
| Individual Adult | ₹5 lakh | ₹5,250 | ₹5,480 |
| Senior Citizen | ₹5 lakh | ₹18,500 | ₹21,000 |
(The rates are representative of new policies in Delhi/NCR as of Jan 2025; the actual premiums depend on age, lifestyle, add-ons and health.)
Note: SBI premiums are a little more expensive on senior citizens due to more options after hospitalisation.
Plans are available online on the official websites of the insurers, with agents, or on major digital marketplaces where side-by-side comparisons can be found.
Renewals, claims, endorsements, and premiums can be managed with mobile apps or helplines.
Customers like online markets to get better discounts, seasonal offers, and simplified documentation.
Over 70 percent of retail policies in 2025 are bought or renewed online, compared to 38 percent in 2022.
No.
Both insurers have a waiting period, 2 years in the case of Chola MS and 3–4 years in the case of SBI General, after which pre-existing conditions are covered, with disclosure and underwriting.
The two insurers have riders that seal coverage gaps:
Metro customers value room-rent flexibility and cashless OPD, as hospital costs rise.
Maternity and newborn care riders are frequently added to young families.
Sneha Mishra, a 31-year old advertiser in Bengaluru, relied on an online platform to compare maternity covers.
She found that SBI General had superior payout limits in the event of maternity events but Chola MS had a shorter maternity coverage waiting period.
The two were competitive, and she decided to use SBI General due to its extensive network of hospitals.
Choose Chola MS Health Insurance if:
Opt for SBI General Health Insurance if:
Finally, the most suitable insurer is based on your age, health condition, family size, budget and preferences.
A good online comparison service will provide easy access to premiums, features and exclusions all under one roof.
SBI General Health Insurance is best suited to a large network, large bonuses, and sophisticated digital applications.
Chola MS Health Insurance is the best in case you need less pre-existing waiting period and fast claims at low rates.
Both include individual, family and senior plans; riders and digital services are getting better.
Premiums are competitive, and it is easier than ever to compare the plans in online marketplaces.
Which is a better health insurance Chola MS or SBI General in 2025?
Both are top-rated. SBI General is appropriate when one desires high bonuses, extensive networks, and good online support. Chola MS provides expedited pre-existing coverage and expedited claims. It is yourself and your needs that matter.
Is it possible to transfer health insurance policy between Chola-MS and SBI General?
Yes. IRDAI permits standard health plan portability on renewal, with underwriting and terms. Apply for portability at least 45 days before expiry.
What are the documents needed to make a cashless claim?
As a rule, you require health insurance card, referral by doctor, identity documents, hospital bills, and policy schedule. Both insurers have now accepted e-KYC and uploading of documents.
Do these insurers cover COVID-19 or pandemic scenarios in the future?
Yes. The latest IRDAI guidelines contain coverage of COVID-19 and other viral illnesses with certain restrictions and waiting periods.
Should we purchase health insurance online in 2025?
Absolutely. The majority of Indians prefer online purchases to be transparent, receive instant quotes, digital claims, and hassle free.
How could we improve this article?
Written by Prem Anand, a content writer with over 10+ years of experience in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sectors.
Prem Anand is a seasoned content writer with over 10+ years of experience in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sectors. He has a strong command of industry-specific language and compliance regulations. He specializes in writing insightful blog posts, detailed articles, and content that educates and engages the Indian audience.
The content is prepared by thoroughly researching multiple trustworthy sources such as official websites, financial portals, customer reviews, policy documents and IRDAI guidelines. The goal is to bring accurate and reader-friendly insights.
This content is created to help readers make informed decisions. It aims to simplify complex insurance and finance topics so that you can understand your options clearly and take the right steps with confidence. Every article is written keeping transparency, clarity, and trust in mind.
Based on Google's Helpful Content System, this article emphasizes user value, transparency, and accuracy. It incorporates principles of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).
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